Ferdinand backs United for title glory

Rio Ferdinand has tipped his former club Manchester United to become champions and expects Wayne Rooney to win the Premier League's Golden Boot.

The 35-year-old believes new manager Louis van Gaal and Robin van Persie will be key factors in the title race as he argued that Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool will all be found wanting.

United only finished seventh in the Premier League last season after struggling under David Moyes, and began the current campaign with a 2-1 home defeat to Swansea.

"I'm backing Manchester United to win the league," Ferdinand told the Evening Standard.

"Manchester United will win because they have a good manager. Wayne Rooney is a good choice as captain. This is his 10th year and he will be top scorer in the league this season.

"Obviously they need their best players fit. Last season Robin van Persie did not play much but he could also be a top scorer."

Ferdinand won the league six times in his 12 seasons at Old Trafford and played 455 times for United before joining Queens Park Rangers in the summer.

And he doubts the credentials of his new club's London neighbours, saying: "I do not see Chelsea winning."

The former England captain has his doubts about Arsenal, explaining: "They have bought well but I just don't know where all their players are going to fit in: Olivier Giroud, Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott, when he is fit, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mesut Ozil, Lukas Podolski."

Liverpool were runners-up last season but Ferdinand feels they may struggle to repeat that, adding: "The biggest problem for Liverpool is that for many of their players, this is the first time they are playing in the Champions League. They are not used to the volume of games that they will have to play now and they've got a lot of new players who have to get accustomed to the new way of life."